New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-05
long be quoted % evidence that representatives
chosen by tho people are not always fit to make
NATIONAL DEFENCE.

Tho Democratic House has again failed 10
American harhors. The Senate passed In good
time two admirable bills for promoting tho man.
ufacture Of modern guns Of tho largest calibro
In this country. There bills were based upon
tho recommendations of every official board that
has considered the subject during tho last de-
cade. The leaders Of the House. unduly In.
flucncod by the opposition Of cOtcrie Of un-
srcce@ful inventors and Adventures, wasted
time In devising wretched makeshift for
these thoroughly digested measures. md al
lowed tho session to end without tho appropn-
ntion Of dollar for civilizations and gun.
making industries. Senator Hawlcys scathins
Indictment Of tho Democratic leaders for In.
capacity and folly In dealing with this impor-
t;lnt subjec. cannot DO successfully traverscd.
The Senate has dono is full duty. The House
has neglected to take the first step toward pro-
wiling tho country with an adequate system OF
defcnces. 1t has been swayed by selfish
schcmcrs and lobbyists who have persistently
opposed measures that have not contained
something for themselves in tho way of jobbcry.
The Naval Appropriation bill provides be-
tween $11 100000 and SIP 100000 for the
new establishment Owing to the persistency
of tho Senate the amount set apart for the
construction and completion of new ships has
been moro than doubled since tho bill left tho
House This fact attests the superior patriot
Ism Of the Senate, but the clauses which have
been hastily drawn amended and recast in
conference, bear all The evidences Of ill-di-
gcsted legislation Tho House having fritz
tered away tho session without passing either
tho Reorganization bill or the ordinary appro-
piiations for the service. attempted at the last
moment to provide for a moderate increase Of
TIE Navy al maximum cost Of less than S.
10000. The Senate, which had passed two
elaborate measures for the construction OF 20.
knot cruisers and Of floating batteries rams and
heavily armorcd ships. substituted for the House
amendments portions Of It's own bills. running
I'D the appropriation to S23 900 1000. The two
propositions were amalgamated after a hasty
conference. and the bil. has become law with
out deliberate discussion in either House. A
worse method of legislating for the increase Of
the Navy cannot be conceived than that of
compromise rider saddlcd upon a regular appro-
priation bill in the waning hours of the session.
The most diverse projects and ideas have beer
jmnblcd together and abruptly sanctioned with
out either House having an opportunity for
intelligent discussion.
There is one excellent feature in the
new naval provisions This is the appropria-
ton of 100000 for armor-platc and gun
steel and forg1ngs. The remainder of the
S12 100000 set apart for tho new Navy is
divided at random. S2.OOO.O00 going for float
my batteries 5000 900 for two fast cruisers,
s., 100000 for vessels already hcgun, and
So 900. 900 for the monitors. The limit OF
cost Of the Newark is extended and two addi-
tional gunbOats arc authorized. One Of the
worst features Of the b l., the unlimited dis
crction which is conferred upon the Secretary
of the Navy I1decd. in view Of the abrupt
ness with which the compromise rider has been
put upon the regulation appropriation bill, We
consider it public misfortune that the llawlcy
fortifcaton bls were not enacted in place Of
this legislative tumble. Everything that has
been wisely done in the way Of investigation |
and recommendation in recent years by com
Ictcnt boards had led up TO the provisions OF
those bills. The naval rider is not the outcome
If deliberate and thoroughly digostcd legislation. |